Asthma

Question 1

A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which cells play a role.
The INFLAMMATION causes symptoms which are associated with WIDESPREAD but VARIABLE AIRFLOW OBSTRUCTION that is often REVERSIBLE either spontaneously or with treatment and causes an associated INCREASE IN AIRWAY RESPONSIVENESS to a variety of stimuli.

Answer 1

Asthma

Question 2

Underlying mechanisms of asthma

Inflammation causes:

Answer 2

Bronchial Hyper-responsiveness

Airflow Limitation

Question 3

What are the 3 responses to allergens?

Answer 3

Airway constriction
Increase in mucus secretion
Inflammatory process

Question 4

True or False.
MAST cells bind to inhaled ALLERGENS or antigens. After binding they become activated and go through DEGRANULATION to release HISTAMINE.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

3 Inflammatory mediators that cause inflammation and bronchoconstriction. They attract further inflammatory cells that prolong inflammatory reaction.

Answer 5

Histamine
Leukotrienes
Prostaglandins

Question 6

Inflammatory cell in asthma that release protein that have toxic effect on airway epithelium

Answer 6

Eosinophils

Question 7

True or False. Asthma is a 2-component disease consisting of airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Bronchial hyper-responsiveness is a result of

Answer 8

Mucus hypersecretion
Inflammation
Bronchoconstriction

Question 9

Symptoms of Asthma

Answer 9

Breathlessness
Wheezing
Coughing
Chest Tightness

Question 10

Asthma Triggers

Answer 10

Allergens
Exercise
Cold Air
Emotional Factors
Psychological Factors

Question 11

Diagnosis on Asthma is based on:

Answer 11

Patient's history
Physical examination
Tests
- PEFR
- Spirometry

Question 12

It measures the maximum speed at which a person out after a maximum breath in and is expressed in liters per minute.

Answer 12

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)

Question 13

Measures maximum volume of air that can be blown out over time.
FVC - Forced Vital Capacity
FEV1 - Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second

Answer 13

Spirometry

Question 14

Asthma and COPD Differential Diagnosis

Answer 14

Asthma - common in young people
Airway obstruction is intermittent and reversible
X ray changes usually absent
Affects large airways

COPD - affects people 40+
Airway obstruction - fixed, progressive, mainly irreversible
May show characteristics x ray findings
Affects small airways - alveoli levels